Marcouxs memorable ride to San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO -The road to San Antonio and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is different for everyone. Many remember being told when they were invited but few had the opportunity to share that with television viewers around the country.

Bronx (N.Y.) Fieldston quarterback Cole Marcoux not only had the opportunity to share the moment, but also his journey to the game in the TV show The Ride which aired on the Fox Sports Network in the fall.

"It's kind of surreal to be here right now," Marcoux said. "Every step has been a little more special. I don't think it gets any better than this. It's been remarkable and there's no better way to end it than being in San Antonio this week."

The journey from New York to Texas began in Pennsylvania as the 6-foot-5, 234-pound quarterback made his way to Philadelphia for a Football University Camp.

"I was at a Football University Camp in Philadelphia just to tune up my skills and get ready for the summer where I was going to go around the country and go to different university camps," Marcoux said. "The next thing I know there are guys in red t-shirts and a coach comes over and says 'do you want to be a part of a reality TV show' and I had no idea what he was talking about.

"He brings me aside and puts me in a group of eight guys and the next thing I know I'm part of a competition where four got taken out and four went on to play in Top Gun in Florida."

Following the FBU event in Florida, the field of four quarterbacks was narrowed down to three and the prospects were then followed throughout their respective high school seasons before two were awarded a trip to Hawaii for the Aloha Prep Bowl.

After the Aloha Prep Bowl, Marcoux was told he won the competition and as a result he would be making the trip to San Antonio for the Army game.

It was a bit of a roller coaster, but when it was all said and done The Ride was more than Marcoux could have ever imagined.

"It was nerve wracking, there's no doubt about it but the whole time I felt it was so easy," he said. "If I had not gone to Philadelphia that weekend, none of this would have happened. All of this is an unbelievable experience and the whole time I'm just trying to live each step and take everything for what it's worth and that's a whole lot. It's unbelievable."

Marcoux helped lead Fieldston to an 8-1 season as he threw for over 1600 yards and 18 touchdowns.

"Marcoux is a tall, strong armed pro-style quarterback that is super intelligent and possesses the work habits off the field to develop into a successful player," Rivals.com Analyst Barry Every said.

He's also gained valuable wisdom and advice from his head coach Gus Ornstein - who was part of the reason Marcoux stuck with football throughout high school.

"That's probably the reason I play football," Marcoux said referring to Ornstein. "I was mainly a baseball player up until last year really. I had no intention of playing football and Gus is the reason really why I've stuck with football this whole time. He's been unbelievable."

Now that he is in San Antonio, Marcoux is ready to reconnect with prospects he has met along the journey and prepare for his time in the Ivy League at Dartmouth.

"Academically coming from the school I come from, it's important to meet your goals and from an academic standpoint I feel like I've done that," Marcoux said. "So I'm very happy in going to Dartmouth College. From a football standpoint, I feel it's a great level and somewhere I can be successful. If something comes along, a bigger Division I school, I'm open to consider it, but I'm happy where I am and I'm excited about that."